If you’ve just been hired for a job in a factory, then you’ll be excited to get to work and start earning some money. However, it’s important to remember that factories aren’t the same as office jobs; under the wrong conditions, then they can be dangerous. The good news is that health and safety in industrial settings have improved massively over the past few decades, so your health shouldn’t be a concern. However, when you start work in a factory, it’s always a good idea to check that the employer values your safety. Here’s how.

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The Right Equipment

There’s a lot of potential danger in a factory, but most of these risks can be negated just by having the simple equipment, such as wearing the right clothing, having the proper shoes, and wearing a safety helmet. Is your new employer supplying you with this equipment, or providing a stipend so that you can buy them yourself? While the factory owner might not be legally obliged to get it for you, doing so will show that they have your health and safety at heart.

Safety Code of Conduct

Factories can be pretty intimidating places, especially if you’ve never spent time in one before. Dangers can seem all around you, and they’re only the ones you can see. On the first hour of your first day, you should be given a thorough safety brief so that nothing goes wrong due to lack of information. If your new boss seems to rush through the details just so that they can get you to work, it could be a sign that they’re not taking their employee’s health and safety as seriously as they ought to.

Hidden Dangers

As well as the obvious dangers of factory work, it’s also vital that you check that the hidden risks have also been accounted for. Your boss might do the bare minimum and tell you about the clear dangers, but overlook the more subtle threats to your health. An example of this is factory dust. If the factory doesn’t have the appropriate industrial process filters in place, then you might find you’re soon suffering from headaches, breathing problems, and other issues. Don’t just take their safety briefing at face value; ask about the other safety measures they have in place.

See Something, Say Something

Factory owners are subject to a lot of laws relating to health and safety, but not all of them do as they should. If you see something that you think is endangering workers, say something. It might be that your boss has simply overlooked something they should have taken care of. Either way, you’ll be doing your bit to keep the factory a safe place to work.

Know The Procedures

Even with all the appropriate safety measures, you can’t always prevent things from going wrong. Make sure you know the safety procedures by heart so that when something does happen, you’re able to ensure that you’re kept as safe as possible.

With the safety taken care of, it’s time to start looking forward to work!